Improvement in tire-tighteners



,s. H JHUDGE.'

Tire-Tighteners.

l YPatented Aug. 2 5, 1874..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPEN H. HODGE, OF MASON CITY, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN TIRE-TIGHTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,481, dated August Q5, 1874; application filed July 7, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN H. HODGE, of Mason City, in the county of Mason and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement Ain Wheel-Expanders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to 'the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a wheel, with my wheel-expander invposition. Fig. 2 is a sectionalk elevation of the same. Fig.- 3 is a perspective of a washer used around `the tenon of the spoke.I Fig. 4 is a perspective of the felly-wedge.

This invention relates to that vclass of `tiresetters which operate to expand the felly of the wheel, and cause it to fill out to and fit the tire.

Heretofore tire-Setters of this class have operated to expand the wheel in radial'directions only. My apparatus operates to expand the wheel in peripheral directions. `The former elongates the wheel or causes it to assume an irregular elliptical figure, whereas myapparatus enlarges the wheel equally at all parts, and preserves its circular lfigure.

'I am aware that an expanding-screw has been'set in the joints between the ends of the fellies, the operation ofwhich is to expand the wheel in peripheral directions, but such devices have always formed portions of the wheel, and could not readily be applied to a wheel already finished.

That others may fully understand my invention, I will particularly describe it. j

VA is the fulcrum or base-piece, fitted to ,rest against the hub, and between two of the spokes of the wheel. B B are two arms, jointed to said base-piece A, and made adjustable as to length by means of screw socket ortsleeves b b. For the purpose of securing arapidity of operation, these sleeves b`b`may be provided with right and left hand screw-threads, as shown in the drawing. At the extremity of each arm B isa head, @provided with clamping-screw d, and. between the extremities of the armsB B there is placed an expanding screw or jack, E, which may also be provided with a screw-sleeve, c, with right and left hand screws, as shown.

When set for operation the base of the fulcrum A is placed against the hub, between the spokes, as shown in Fig. 1. The arms B B are then elongated by means of sleeves b b until the heads c clasp the inner edge of the felly, when the clamp-screws d d are applied, and said heads are securely fastened to said felly. This attachment is made so that the joints between the adjoining fellies are between the heads. When the jacks E are operated the heads c are forced away from each other, and the felly-joint will be opened and the felly enlarged so as to ill the tire. This effect will canse the felly to loosen and move outward upon such spokes, and itsret'urn to its old position is prevented by the introduction of washers between the shoulders of the spokes and the fellies, and also between the parted ends of the felly. For this purpose washers in the form of flat staples have been used, but I prefer a jointed washer, g, such as shown in Fig. 3, which may be opened to put itin place, and, when closed around the dowel of the spoke, forms a complete support all around. The felly-wedge F is provided with ears fand holes through which nails or screws may be inserted to hold the wedge securely in place. Serrated wedges G 'Gr may also be placed under the heads c, to aid in preventing any slip during the operation of expansion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new isl. A wheel-expander composed of two adjustable arms, provided with clamps whereby they may be secured to the felly of a wagonwheel, combined with an expanding-screw to force said arms away from each other and 'expand the felly in peripheral directions, as set forth.

2. In combination, the fulcrum A, the extension-arms B B, and clamping-heads c c, with the expanding-screw E between said arms to force them apart, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The jointed washer g, to raise the spokeshoulder, as set forth.

.4. The felly-wedge F, provided with perforated ears f f, for the reception of holding screws or nails, as set forth.

5. In combination with the arms A and clamp-heads c, the serrated wedges g g, to prevent said heads from slipping, substantially as set forth.

Witnesses: STEPHEN H. HODGE.

J osEPn STATLEE, S. M. BADGER. 

